ECML Cockenzie to Reston

Early in the morning an almost full moon rises over 66244 as it creeps forward through the unloading shed at Cockenzie Power Station. The train is 7B61 0535 Millerhill to Cockenzie loaded MGR.

Loadhaul liveried 56083 brings its binliner train through the shallow cutting just to the north of Oxwellmains which is its destination. This is the daily 6B41 0810 Powderhall RTS to Oxwellmains compacted domestic refuse train. It will go into the landfill site at the worked out part of the Oxwellmains quarry.

Beside the East Coast Main Line near West Barns between Edinburgh and Dunbar, 91025 speeds south propelling its train of mkIV coaches and DVT. This working is 1E06 0930 Edinburgh to Kings Cross.

A north bound HST en route to Aberdeen approaches with 43108 at the head of 1S11 0710 off Leeds.

On the north side of Dunbar the line passes behind the town and in front of a large open area of playing fields. An unknown GNER high speed set powers south with 1E08 0755 Aberdeen to Kings Cross.

An unknown class 91 fronts 1S13 0700 off London Kings Cross to Edinburgh passing Dunbar.

Dunbar is situated a few miles north of Oxwellmains. 66156 heads for the cement works with a rake of empty PCA tanks for reloading. This is 6B37 1105 Millerhill to Oxwellmains running early.

Grid 56083 reappears heading back to Powderhall, it has swapped its loaded container for a rake of empty ones. Each flat has three containers. 6B44 is booked off Oxwellmains at 1115 and will put the empty containers at the Refuse Transfer Station for reloading for the next day.

This is the first shot I took with my recently acquired 300mm telephoto lens and I am very pleased with the result. Despite the clarity it is not possible to identify the powercar due to the black number being painted on the red stripe which is angled up slightly. The camera is at a slight angle and not a steep upgrade!! The working is 1E09 1000 Glasgow Central to Kings Cross.

A move to the south of Dunbar now and GNER's longest duty speeds south with powercars 43039 and 43118 working 1E10 0755 Inverness to Kings Cross, the "Highland Chieftain".

An empty set of HAA coal hoppers rattle along the ECML to the south of Dunbar with 66141 at the head. It is 6S35 0900 Tyne Yard to Millerhill.

I had hoped to have got this train nearer to Oxwellmains but it's early running caught me out. 66156 fronts 6D38 1242 off the cement works to Viewpark in Glasgow. It is 40 minutes early.

Moving on again and 91107 runs through the loops at Grantshouse on a falling 1 in 500 gardient. The village of the same name is above the train, 1E11 1200 Edinburgh to Kings Cross.

The up "Northern Lights, 1E12 0955 Aberdeen to Kings Cross comes round the hill through which Penmansheil Tunnel once passed. It was on the 17th of March 1979 that the tunnel collapsed without any warning killing two men working within, Gordon Turnbull and Peter Edgar Fowler. Their bodies were never recovered, the tunnel was sealed and the ground consecrated and it became their grave. The railway was diverted around the hill on the formation of the A1 road which took on a new route.

91019 catches the glint as it propells the up "Flying Scotsman", 1E13 1200 Glasgow Central to Kings Cross south.

Another glint, another class 91 and the down "Flying Scotsman". This train is 1S18 and still it departs the capital at 1000. Now it runs to Glasgow Central, rather than just Edinburgh.

Typical, the first freight to come by and the sun gets all shy on me and hides!! 66134 slows for the up loop to allow a passenger working to overtake. The train is 6U61 0726 Chalmerston to Drax Power Station.

66134 and its coal train stands at the signal at the south end of the loop as 91127 speeds by working 1E25 1330 Edinburgh to Kings Cross. Once the passenger is a couple of signal sections ahead, the road will be set for 66134 and it will get underway again.

A change from the usual diet of loaded and empty coal trains is this working, 6S54 1130 North Blyth to Fort William loaded alumina tanks. 66100 is routed into the down loop to be passed by a northbound passenger train.

The warm early spring sun shines and glints off the side of 66100 as it slowly passes by in the valley below.

Two freights pass at Grantshouse, 66100 remains in the loop as 66154 rumbles south on the main line with 6E21 0840 Hunterston to Milford Yard loaded MGR.

The reason for 66100 being looped goes by with 43112 at the lead of 1S20 1030 Kings Cross to Aberdeen. Once the train is a few signal sections ahead, the road will be set for the freight for it to continue its journey to, ultimately, Fort William.

Renumbered 91132 returns to the south providing the motive power for 1E14 1400 Edinburght to Kings Cross. This loco was originally 91023 and had the misfortune to be caught up in the Hatfield and Great Heck crashes. When it received its mid life overhaul it was given a totally new number to try and avoid it becoming a jinx loco.

Again the sun goes behind a cloud as a coal train approaches. 66248 is working 6S02 1245 Tyne Yard to Hunterston empties and is signalled into the down loop. Surprisingly it isn't held and runs out at the north end and continues its journey.

A last shot at Grantshouse is of 91106 running about 30 minutes late working 1S21 1100 Kings Cross to Glasgow Central. It is unlikely the deficit will be made up on reaching Scotland's second city.

This location is near Reston and is about 8 miles from the England - Scotland border. The down "Highland Chieftain" comes north with 43120 and 43119 on either end of the HST set. The train details are 1S24 1200 Kings Cross to Inverness.

I had just about given up on this working and was about to leave when I heard it approach. 60091 still wears its Trainload Coal subsector livery and is booked to 6E30 1329 Dalzell to Lackenby empty steel flats.

Using my 300mm telephoto lens for the second time this day to secure this shot of 60091 on its southbound journey. The line follows the lie of the land and it takes a long sweeping curve to the left.

On the journey back to Fife I took a turn off the A1 to try for a few shots. The lowering sun glints off the unknown class 91 and its train as it heads south with 1E17 1600 Edinburgh to Kings Cross.

Due to a landslip at Haltwhistle on the Newcastle to Carlise line, some traffic was being diverted via Edinburgh. One such train is the lengthy and heavy 6M71 1519 Lackenby Steel Works to Workington steel slabs. 60097 is in charge of this train passing Dunbar.